New Kiln – Finally!
I experienced a few delays after ordering my new kiln from Mile Hi Ceramics last December – but am happy to report that my new Skutt 1027 with Envirovent was delivered Friday afternoon. Thank you Mike! The Skutt 1027 has a 7 cu. ft. interior – which is almost triple the size of my old Paragon kiln you see pictured next to my new kiln. For the time, I’m keeping my Paragon – it will come in handy firing student work. Plus, I need to have an electrician over to add a new plug receptacle and to up the breaker size from 50 to 60. My husband also needs to drill a large hole for the vent somewhere near the kiln. I could do it, but there might be more than one hole to the outside. Best to leave the power tools to him. So, for now, I just have to content myself by admiring its gleaming newness when I’m in the studio.Speaking of the studio, It’s getting warmer with an average high in the 40′s – 50′s here in Denver which means I need to make some work because of a couple of upcoming shows and some news I just received last week.
I was accepted into wholesalecrafts.com! What does that mean? I need to build my page on wholesalecrafts.com so that buyers can start ordering my work to be carried in shops and galleries. So, I definitely need to wean myself off my addiction to the computer. I’m going to institute a new policy of no computer for me between the hours of 8am – 5pm (prime studio hours for me). I will still have time in the am to login – I get up around 5:30am whether I like it or not and then again after dinner. Should be enough time, don’t you think?
I’m also going to take Lisa Call’s advice and start an account with Bloglines and start subscribing to my favorite blogs. That should save time seeing who has fresh posts.
Well, I’m heading out for some Dim Sum,
~Cynthia
Karen Halls
March 9, 2008 at 10:01 am //
I found your site on google blog search and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Just added your RSS feed to my feed reader. Look forward to reading more from you.
Karen Halls
Shawn McCann
March 9, 2008 at 11:05 am //
Your new kiln looks great Cynthia! Can’t wait to see what comes out of it!
Chae
March 9, 2008 at 11:21 am //
Exciting !!!
Bet you can hardly wait to fire it !!!
Why did you switch from a Paragon to a Skutt?
Stayed up much too late last nite so thoughts are short and choppy — but am very thrilled that you have finally received your kiln !!!
Happy Firing
Hugs
Chae
janvangogh
March 9, 2008 at 3:16 pm //
Congrats on all. Spring is in the air. Yay! Finally.
Lisa
March 9, 2008 at 4:27 pm //
Woohoo! Congrats on the kiln. This warmer weather is wonderful.
little like sand
March 9, 2008 at 5:57 pm //
Wow Cynthia, that`s a dandy! No I feel as if we`re working back in the stone age.
LB
March 9, 2008 at 10:11 pm //
Wow! The kiln is so shiny!
And, congrats on wholesalecrafts! That’s great!!
Heather
March 10, 2008 at 3:23 am //
Congrat’s on the Wholesale crafts thing, that’s really going to change your world! Your new kiln looks very sexy, can’t wait to see what you pull outta that!
Cynthia
March 10, 2008 at 5:28 am //
Welcome, Karen!
I can’t wait to test it out, Shawn – the digital controller is going to rock.
Chae, I never really set out to have a Paragon, it sort of found me. So when I was shopping for a kiln, I was looking at a Skutt or an L&L kiln. My supplier, Mile Hi Ceramics doesn’t carry L&L – and they provide service for the Skutt in person. It sort of clinched the deal when they were having a 20% off sale last Dec. 20% off of 2800.00 is significant. I’ve been really happy with my Paragon though, if you’re thinking about getting one.
Thank goodness Spring is around the corner, Janet! I’ve always enjoyed winter, but this one has made me feel like I’m a bear emerging from hibernation – not completely rested either.
Thanks Lisa – isn’t it?
Raku is a whole different animal, John – I think my neighborhood fire department would come calling if I tried to do raku in my small city yard.
Thanks Diana – I’m excited about both!
Heather, I had to laugh about “Your new kiln looks very sexy” quote – you sound like a clay person talking.
Mary Timme
March 10, 2008 at 6:21 am //
It looks so shiny and new and unused as yet, but I bet it gets a workout later! Once it is hooked up. I’ve tried subscribing to bloglines and have evidently run into a snag as I’m not getting my confirmation email. I know what you mean about limiting time spent on computer. Sigh! I’ve been doing that with my eyes and now I need to continue the practice. So much more gets done when I’m not in fromt of the latest version of the “Boob Tube” that we call computer monitors. Big Sigh!
Chi
March 10, 2008 at 6:49 am //
wow, your new kiln looks fantastic! as i look at yours, i’m dreaming about mine. i am hoping to buy the same skutt model and vent. can’t wait to hear about your first firing using the new kiln.
Linda
March 10, 2008 at 8:54 am //
Congratulations on your new kiln. Can’t wait to hear about your first firing. I have an old Skutt I am having connected up.
I couldn’t help but notice the exposed paper-backed insulation near your kilns. Do you worry about the paper igniting from ambient heat buildup? I only mention this as recently another potter told me how three hours after his kiln was shut down, his studio caught on fire and burnt down. It was determined the wood caught on fire. So that worried me. I have my kiln on my back screen porch with a half wood lower wall surrounding it on two sides. I am thinking of putting up a nonflammable surface around it with a spacer between the nonflammable surface and the wood wall to allow air to circulate just to be a little safer.
Please keep us posted on wholesalecrafts, I’m wondering what the ramifications will be filling large orders.
I am thinking I should also adopt your rule about staying off the computer during regular working hours.
Cynthia
March 10, 2008 at 9:06 am //
Fingers crossed, it will get a good workout, Mary!
Thanks Chi – a lot of people are really happy with the Skutt. I’m looking forward to not having to fire my kiln quite as much as I do my little paragon.
Linda, I asked the installer if he saw any issues with the insulation – we haven’t drywalled that part of the garage yet – and he said no. Though you can’t see it, we have almost 3′ between the kiln and the wall. Ideally, I would want a kiln room, but it isn’t going to happen where I live now. Actually, come to think of it, the guild’s 2 huge gas kilns and their electric kilns are in a wood shed and the walls are also wood construction.
Jean Levert Hood
March 10, 2008 at 5:30 pm //
Great for you new kiln, Cynthia!
Bloglines it great. It is the only way I can keep my growing list straight! Be sure to put a subscribe to bloglines link on your browser, makes subscribing to new blogs a quick and easy thing.
Jean Levert Hood
March 10, 2008 at 5:31 pm //
Gee, I should proofread more!
That should be “Your” new kiln!
jafabrit
March 11, 2008 at 1:50 pm //
I can see why you won’t be able to blog as much and for a jolly good reason, congrats on the wholesale crafts. I will have to check the bloglines out as I am finding it harder and harder to keep up with all the blogs I love to visit.
Undaunted
March 12, 2008 at 2:40 pm //
I am sooo jealous! If I had my own kiln I just know that I would be making stuff to put in it all the time! I’m holding back on the clay just because I have no idea where to get it fired yet.
andrea
March 13, 2008 at 11:05 am //
The new kiln’s a beauty and congrats on your new Wholesalecrafts endeavour! And I use Bloglines — would be lost without it.
Lynette
March 15, 2008 at 9:52 pm //
Congratulations on your new kiln, it looks wonderfully big!!